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The Worst Thing
Aaron Elkins has been hailed as "a master" ( The Dallas Morning News ) for his Edgar(r) Award-winning Gideon Oliver mysteries. Now, in an original new novel, he illustrates how quickly everything can go wrong when you What's the worst that can happen?
For Bryan Bennett, designing hostage negotiation programs is the perfect job-as long as he keeps a safe, theoretical distance. What he can't do is deal directly with kidnappers or their victims, as a result of his own abduction and imprisonment as a small boy. Thirty-some years later, intense nightmares still plague his sleep, and a fear of enclosed spaces prevents him from attempting to travel.
So when Bryan's boss asks him to fly to Reykjavik, Iceland, to teach his corporate-level kidnapping and extortion seminar, he automatically says no. But the CEO of GlobalSeas Fisheries, Inc. has specifically requested Bryan-or no one else. Bryan finally relents...
For decades he's treaded gingerly around the edges of his deepest terrors. Now, on this trip, Bryan's taken hostage again and must face his fears full-on. Will he realize that in this battle of will and nerve, he is his own greatest enemy? Or has this fight already been lost, years and years ago?
For Bryan Bennett, designing hostage negotiation programs is the perfect job-as long as he keeps a safe, theoretical distance. What he can't do is deal directly with kidnappers or their victims, as a result of his own abduction and imprisonment as a small boy. Thirty-some years later, intense nightmares still plague his sleep, and a fear of enclosed spaces prevents him from attempting to travel.
So when Bryan's boss asks him to fly to Reykjavik, Iceland, to teach his corporate-level kidnapping and extortion seminar, he automatically says no. But the CEO of GlobalSeas Fisheries, Inc. has specifically requested Bryan-or no one else. Bryan finally relents...
For decades he's treaded gingerly around the edges of his deepest terrors. Now, on this trip, Bryan's taken hostage again and must face his fears full-on. Will he realize that in this battle of will and nerve, he is his own greatest enemy? Or has this fight already been lost, years and years ago?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2011
22 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Elkins
54 books336 followersAaron J. Elkins, AKA Aaron Elkins (born Brooklyn July 24, 1935) is an American mystery writer. He is best known for his series of novels featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver—the 'skeleton detective'. The fourth Oliver book, Old Bones, received the 1988 Edgar Award for Best Novel. As Oliver is a world-renowned authority, he travels around the world and each book is set in a different and often exotic locale.
In another series, the protagonist is museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art.
One of his stand-alone thrillers, Loot deals with art stolen by the Nazis and introduces protagonist Dr. Benjamin Revere.
With his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has also co-written a series of golf mysteries about LPGA member Lee Ofsted. They shared an Agatha Award for their short story "Nice Gorilla".
Aaron and Charlotte live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Japanese: アーロン エルキンズ
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Charlotte Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
In another series, the protagonist is museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art.
One of his stand-alone thrillers, Loot deals with art stolen by the Nazis and introduces protagonist Dr. Benjamin Revere.
With his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has also co-written a series of golf mysteries about LPGA member Lee Ofsted. They shared an Agatha Award for their short story "Nice Gorilla".
Aaron and Charlotte live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Japanese: アーロン エルキンズ
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Charlotte Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 29, 2011
How could a book that starts off so promising turn out so douchey? My review is actually 4 1/2 stars for the first half and 1 star for the second half so I gave it 2 stars. I hope that makes sense.
The beginning of this book is fascinating as it looks at panic attacks and how the mind reacts and protects us. While I don't have panic attacks (nothing truly awful has ever happened to me, thank goodness), I do have an anxiety disorder and do sometimes feel panicked. It was very interesting to read about the attacks of the main character, Bryan, that were brought on as a result of him being kidnapped as a child. He now works developing programs related to hostage negotiations (I think...it was something like that), avoids planes and small spaces and has a pretty nice life in Washington.
He gets summoned to Iceland to do a corporate training on kidnapping and negotiations. There is a lot of back and forth and finally, he decides to go. Loooong story, but he ends up getting kidnapped again...well, actually, he is kind of forced into "turning himself in" to the kidnappers.
That first part of the book was awesome. I loved reading about Iceland (I love how they do their last names over there!) and as I said, the info on the mind and panic was extremely interesting.
But once Bryan was kidnapped, it got boring. I also found a mistake in the book and this sort of thing bugs me...he talks in the beginning of the book about his shining glory hostage negotiating that recovered all but $400 of the ransom and involved 3 people, 2 of whom turned state's evidence. Later, he says all but $800 was recovered, and it involved 4 people and 1 turned state's evidence. Could this have been the author's deep way of saying memories are unreliable? Maybe. It seemed sloppy to me though.
I also found fault with how lovey-dovey he was about his wife. Do men really talk like that?! My man sure doesn't.
Lastly, the "twist" at the end was ridiculous...the very definition of douchebaggery...something just thrown in as an "aha, betcha you didn't see THAT one coming, fuckers!!!"
If you are going to read this book, do yourself a favor and stop halfway through and make up your own ending.
The beginning of this book is fascinating as it looks at panic attacks and how the mind reacts and protects us. While I don't have panic attacks (nothing truly awful has ever happened to me, thank goodness), I do have an anxiety disorder and do sometimes feel panicked. It was very interesting to read about the attacks of the main character, Bryan, that were brought on as a result of him being kidnapped as a child. He now works developing programs related to hostage negotiations (I think...it was something like that), avoids planes and small spaces and has a pretty nice life in Washington.
He gets summoned to Iceland to do a corporate training on kidnapping and negotiations. There is a lot of back and forth and finally, he decides to go. Loooong story, but he ends up getting kidnapped again...well, actually, he is kind of forced into "turning himself in" to the kidnappers.
That first part of the book was awesome. I loved reading about Iceland (I love how they do their last names over there!) and as I said, the info on the mind and panic was extremely interesting.
But once Bryan was kidnapped, it got boring. I also found a mistake in the book and this sort of thing bugs me...he talks in the beginning of the book about his shining glory hostage negotiating that recovered all but $400 of the ransom and involved 3 people, 2 of whom turned state's evidence. Later, he says all but $800 was recovered, and it involved 4 people and 1 turned state's evidence. Could this have been the author's deep way of saying memories are unreliable? Maybe. It seemed sloppy to me though.
I also found fault with how lovey-dovey he was about his wife. Do men really talk like that?! My man sure doesn't.
Lastly, the "twist" at the end was ridiculous...the very definition of douchebaggery...something just thrown in as an "aha, betcha you didn't see THAT one coming, fuckers!!!"
If you are going to read this book, do yourself a favor and stop halfway through and make up your own ending.
May 8, 2011
Bryan Bennett has a happy and successful life and his worst thing is something that he manages to put on a shelf a big percentage of the time. Bryan’s worst thing is panic attacks but he has learned to deal with them, at least in his opinion. Bryan works at Odysseus Institute where he specializes in issues relating to kidnapping and extortion. His panic attacks are a result of his abduction and imprisonment in a Turkish dungeon as a young boy.
Bryan’s wife, Lori, loves to travel but Bryan is not comfortable when traveling unless he can manage to do so without getting on a plane. Enclosed places bring on his attacks and Xanax helps but the pills are a crutch and not a cure. When Bryan’s boss suggests that he make a trip to Iceland to teach a kidnapping seminar, Bryan senses Lori’s disappointment and decides that it is time to face his problems and allow Lori to enjoy an expense paid trip to Iceland. Lori is thrilled with the idea of the trip but insists that it is time that Bryan consults a professional regarding his fears.
Bryan agrees and makes an appointment with Zeta Parkington, retired professor, whose specialty was anxiety disorders. Zeta met with Bryan and among other things told him that the only real cure for anxiety problems was to face the fear and conquer that fear. The time for facing his fear was not far away for Bryan
The couple arrives in Iceland without a problem and are soon enjoying the trip. However, the fun is brought to a sudden halt when a group of radical citizen-soldiers executes a kidnapping attempt. The attempt goes wrong and Bryan winds up as a hostage. Now he has to face his old fears and conquer them in order to survive.
“The Worst Thing” is a novel full of suspense and some surprises. This book gives the reader a real insight into the horrors of panic attacks and makes for excellent reading.
Bryan’s wife, Lori, loves to travel but Bryan is not comfortable when traveling unless he can manage to do so without getting on a plane. Enclosed places bring on his attacks and Xanax helps but the pills are a crutch and not a cure. When Bryan’s boss suggests that he make a trip to Iceland to teach a kidnapping seminar, Bryan senses Lori’s disappointment and decides that it is time to face his problems and allow Lori to enjoy an expense paid trip to Iceland. Lori is thrilled with the idea of the trip but insists that it is time that Bryan consults a professional regarding his fears.
Bryan agrees and makes an appointment with Zeta Parkington, retired professor, whose specialty was anxiety disorders. Zeta met with Bryan and among other things told him that the only real cure for anxiety problems was to face the fear and conquer that fear. The time for facing his fear was not far away for Bryan
The couple arrives in Iceland without a problem and are soon enjoying the trip. However, the fun is brought to a sudden halt when a group of radical citizen-soldiers executes a kidnapping attempt. The attempt goes wrong and Bryan winds up as a hostage. Now he has to face his old fears and conquer them in order to survive.
“The Worst Thing” is a novel full of suspense and some surprises. This book gives the reader a real insight into the horrors of panic attacks and makes for excellent reading.
September 17, 2024
This book was both hard to believe and hard to read. It’s based on a man having been kidnapped paper at age 5, then decides to dedicate his life to training how to avoid kidnapping situation (but never telling his story). He has panic attacks for 30 years and won’t travel. Then he miraculously decides to travel…& gets kidnapped again. I won’t tell you the “twist” but it made the entire thing even more ridiculous
February 28, 2012
When Bryan Bennett was five years old he was kidnapped and held for ransom for 58 days. Taken from the Turkish compound where his father worked, Bryan was held in very primitive conditions and treated poorly. When he was released, he writes that "doctors found two dozen ulcerating sores on my body as a result of malnutrition and poor hygiene. I had lost nine pounds - more than 20 percent of my body weight - I had gum abscesses, infections in both eyes and a raging case of dysentery. I was too weak to walk".
As an adult, Bryan began his career as a hostage negotiator but found that direct involvement with kidnappers and their victims was too close to home. He ends up writing curriculum and making presentations on corporate safety, extortion, and kidnapping prevention for the Odysseus Institute for Corporate Protection in Seattle.
When his boss asks him to go to Iceland to make a presentation there, he at first refuses. Bryan suffers from horrific panic attacks exacerbated by some situations such as flying on airplanes. His wife really wants to go and Bryan reluctantly agrees. He finds out later, however, that the CEO of the company in Iceland has recently been the victim of a botched kidnapping attempt.
Bryan uses xanax, a tranquilizer, to deal with his panic attacks which usually come at night. These night attacks wax and wane in frequency and severity. Once he agrees to go to Iceland, the attacks come on full force despite his seeing a therapist and receiving some cognitive behavioral therapy to address this problem.
Aaron Elkins' book, The Worst Thing, is about Bryan's worst fear - being kidnapped again. Though the odds of a second kidnapping are statistically miniscule, Bryan lives daily with this horrible fear of being kidnapped. The post-traumatic stress from his first kidnapping has never been resolved. As his wife says, "my abduction had left me with some extremely heavy baggage to lug around but also with a compulsive interest in, or perhaps even an obsession (her term) with kidnapping, extortion and captivity. That is, I was scared to death of anything to do with them, but fascinated at the same time".
In Iceland, Bryan begins conducting his seminar and in short order ends up in the hands of kidnappers, along with the CEO of the company for whom he is doing the presentation. The group of four kidnappers form an amateurish group of eco-terrorists who call themselves the VBJ. Bryan's xanax is confiscated and Bryan must face his deep-seated fears and terrors once again. Though rationally more prepared than the average person, fear is irrational and Bryan must again relive The Worst Thing he can imagine.
Elkins gives the best description of a panic attack that I've ever read outside of a textbook. He also gets the psychopathic personality down pat. The book is a fine thriller and filled with suspense from the beginning. One can feel Bryan's fear and terror along with him and the author's use of the first person works very well. I enjoy a good thriller and this one held me in its grips throughout.
As an adult, Bryan began his career as a hostage negotiator but found that direct involvement with kidnappers and their victims was too close to home. He ends up writing curriculum and making presentations on corporate safety, extortion, and kidnapping prevention for the Odysseus Institute for Corporate Protection in Seattle.
When his boss asks him to go to Iceland to make a presentation there, he at first refuses. Bryan suffers from horrific panic attacks exacerbated by some situations such as flying on airplanes. His wife really wants to go and Bryan reluctantly agrees. He finds out later, however, that the CEO of the company in Iceland has recently been the victim of a botched kidnapping attempt.
Bryan uses xanax, a tranquilizer, to deal with his panic attacks which usually come at night. These night attacks wax and wane in frequency and severity. Once he agrees to go to Iceland, the attacks come on full force despite his seeing a therapist and receiving some cognitive behavioral therapy to address this problem.
Aaron Elkins' book, The Worst Thing, is about Bryan's worst fear - being kidnapped again. Though the odds of a second kidnapping are statistically miniscule, Bryan lives daily with this horrible fear of being kidnapped. The post-traumatic stress from his first kidnapping has never been resolved. As his wife says, "my abduction had left me with some extremely heavy baggage to lug around but also with a compulsive interest in, or perhaps even an obsession (her term) with kidnapping, extortion and captivity. That is, I was scared to death of anything to do with them, but fascinated at the same time".
In Iceland, Bryan begins conducting his seminar and in short order ends up in the hands of kidnappers, along with the CEO of the company for whom he is doing the presentation. The group of four kidnappers form an amateurish group of eco-terrorists who call themselves the VBJ. Bryan's xanax is confiscated and Bryan must face his deep-seated fears and terrors once again. Though rationally more prepared than the average person, fear is irrational and Bryan must again relive The Worst Thing he can imagine.
Elkins gives the best description of a panic attack that I've ever read outside of a textbook. He also gets the psychopathic personality down pat. The book is a fine thriller and filled with suspense from the beginning. One can feel Bryan's fear and terror along with him and the author's use of the first person works very well. I enjoy a good thriller and this one held me in its grips throughout.
August 14, 2011
The Worst Thing (Berkley 2011) is the story of Brian Bennett, a successful designer of hostage negotiation programs. Brian was abducted as a five-year-old child, and imprisoned in appalling conditions for nearly two months. Though he suffers from claustrophobia, Brian is able to live a fairly normal life with the help of Xanax to control his panic attacks and nightmares. After an intense panic attack in the midst of a hostage negotiation, Brian retired from field work and began creating training programs for other negotiators. Then his boss asks him to fly to Reykjavik, Iceland, to teach his kidnapping seminar at GlobalSeas Fisheries, and sweetens the deal by offering to pay for his wife Lori a marine biologist, to accompany him. Brian hasn’t been on a plane in years, even cars make him nervous, but he reluctantly agrees for Lori’s sake. Before leaving, he consults a psychologist who tells him that the only way to break the panic attack cycle is to confront his fears head-on, without the support of Xanax. Brian agrees to begin as soon as he returns from Iceland. But when the CEO of GlobalSeas is kidnapped, Brian finds himself back in the hostage negotiating hot seat, unsure of his ability to handle the pressure. An engaging protagonist, Brian’s first-person narration makes his panic attacks all too real. This fast-paced psychological thriller, marred slightly by an unnecessary final plot twist, is a compelling look at abduction and the confrontation of terror on a very personal level.
Aaron Elkins page at SYKM
Aaron Elkins page at SYKM
August 11, 2016
I loved this up until the last page.
This book was engaging as the story line was on several different levels. First off, a hostage negotiator turned trainer that himself once was a hostage. Secondly, the psychology of panic attacks. Finally, giving in and travelling (with a huge fear of small places) to Iceland to conduct a training class, and then finding himself again undergoing the worst thing possible - being a hostage.
So far, so good. The story is well written and well presented.
Up until the last page. The denouement made sense and was a nice twist.
Until I turned the page and fell into the final scene dialog between Bryan and his wife Lori.
Really, that's how he ended the book? A taut thriller that ends on this humorous note? I felt he had so many different ways to go, perhaps a musing note on Bryan's experiences, anything, but the last conversation with Lori.
So, I loved the book until that last page, but that ending spoiled the book for me. Hence, the 3 star review. I did like it, to a point, and am trying to be fair to the entire book, not just my disappointment with the final ending.
This book was engaging as the story line was on several different levels. First off, a hostage negotiator turned trainer that himself once was a hostage. Secondly, the psychology of panic attacks. Finally, giving in and travelling (with a huge fear of small places) to Iceland to conduct a training class, and then finding himself again undergoing the worst thing possible - being a hostage.
So far, so good. The story is well written and well presented.
Up until the last page. The denouement made sense and was a nice twist.
Until I turned the page and fell into the final scene dialog between Bryan and his wife Lori.
Really, that's how he ended the book? A taut thriller that ends on this humorous note? I felt he had so many different ways to go, perhaps a musing note on Bryan's experiences, anything, but the last conversation with Lori.
So, I loved the book until that last page, but that ending spoiled the book for me. Hence, the 3 star review. I did like it, to a point, and am trying to be fair to the entire book, not just my disappointment with the final ending.
May 12, 2011
"The Worst Thing" is a suspense novel about hostage negotiation and panic attacks. The author wove vivid details into the story about hostage negotiation, what it's like to be a hostage, and what it's like to deal with panic attacks. This was very well done and very interesting.
The characters were varied, complex, and quirky in an engaging way. I always understood why the characters were acting the way they did. I had a hard time putting the book down because I found it so interesting and suspenseful. The suspense was created by the danger of the kidnapping situation and by Bryan's inability to handle his intense panic attacks. Despite the serious situations, there was an underlying humor in how the characters viewed the situations and their fear.
There was some explicit bad language. There was no graphic sex. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, suspenseful novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The characters were varied, complex, and quirky in an engaging way. I always understood why the characters were acting the way they did. I had a hard time putting the book down because I found it so interesting and suspenseful. The suspense was created by the danger of the kidnapping situation and by Bryan's inability to handle his intense panic attacks. Despite the serious situations, there was an underlying humor in how the characters viewed the situations and their fear.
There was some explicit bad language. There was no graphic sex. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, suspenseful novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
February 4, 2016
This is a pretty straightforward and nifty little thriller. Some thrillers are really literary thrillers--this one definitely is not. In simple prose (at times a bit cliched for my taste) the story revolves around painful memories and having to deal with one's demons. The lead character was kidnapped at the age of 5 in Istanbul and held for almost 2 months. It was a horrifying experience which with he has never really come to grips. He is sent to Iceland to lead a conference on how to prevent and deal with a kidnapping, and all is going well until all hell breaks loose.
With the lead character dealing with negotiating while having to deal directly with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks, the author moves the plot along adeptly and keeps the reader riveted to the page. The end is a bit much, treading the extremely unrealistic terrain in its resolution (there is an escape that is hard to believe). Besides that, this is a really pleasurable read.
With the lead character dealing with negotiating while having to deal directly with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks, the author moves the plot along adeptly and keeps the reader riveted to the page. The end is a bit much, treading the extremely unrealistic terrain in its resolution (there is an escape that is hard to believe). Besides that, this is a really pleasurable read.
August 20, 2011
I like Aaron Elkins to begin with so I expected to enjoy this book. And I did. It's different from the others he's written (in the Gideon Oliver series) with a new protagonist and a very different story line. Bryan Bennett is an academic who specializes in crisis management, and specifically in hostage negotiations. But because of terribe memories from when he was kidnapped as a small boy, he only advises and won't himself participate in a negotiation. Until he has to. In Iceland. Until he's kidnapped himself.
The book is more of a psychological thriller than a traditional mystery since the character is set inside the mystery itself rather than as an observer or a crime solver. It's got just
the right amount of tension to keep you reading long after you should have turned out the lights.
The book is more of a psychological thriller than a traditional mystery since the character is set inside the mystery itself rather than as an observer or a crime solver. It's got just
the right amount of tension to keep you reading long after you should have turned out the lights.
November 20, 2012
Despite a solid beginning and middle, "The Worst Thing" is criminally let down in the final act by a rushed ending, and Elkins sweeping away any lingering trauma our hero might have suffered, simply to give him a happy ending. The ultimate confrontation between protagonist and antagonist is over in a couple of pages; the antagonist isn't even mentioned in the denouement; and there is nary a thought thrown to the psychological suffering that made the book so compelling just a few chapters before. What the hell, Elkins?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2011
A fast, easy read and hard to put down. For anyone who has a very real fear of something (I'm thinking snakes here...), it's interesting insight into why we respond as we do. I agree with the reviewer who said it was more of a psychological suspense than mystery story, but that didn't detract at all. I've enjoyed Aaron Elkins' other books and this one was no exception. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because the ending was somewhat abrupt and stretched credulity a bit. Recommended!
June 16, 2013
I picked this up on a recent trip to the library; and had not read anything by Aaron Elkins. Loved this book, very intriguing story. Brian Bennett believes being kidnapped again would be the worst thing that could ever happen to him. While on a business trip to Iceland he finds himself having to face down his worst fear and do so without Xanax to help him get through his panic attacks. Highly recommend this book if you enjoy a suspenseful read.
September 19, 2011
Written by a local Seattle area author this is an interesting little book. A man whose life has been influenced by horrific panic attacks and a horrible event in early life, is a world renown kidnapping & negotiating expert. If you have an interest in psychology and mystery, you should like this book. It seemed a bit short and choppy at the end.
May 15, 2012
book:The Worst Thing|9755774] by Aaron J. Elkins: meh
Sounded better in the blurb. Too bad because I liked all the characters & the very end. The beginning was ok-it was everything in between that dragged.
Sounded better in the blurb. Too bad because I liked all the characters & the very end. The beginning was ok-it was everything in between that dragged.
December 24, 2013
I liked parts of this suspense novel, but in the end I was disappointed. Elkins does a great job of evoking what it feels like to have a panic attack, but he ties things up way too neatly and quickly to make the end believable.
October 3, 2011
Somewhat boring but informative on hostage negotiations. That was worthwhile.
June 24, 2014
The story overall was interesting until I hit the last chapter which made me grimace. The ending alone made my rating jump down to two stars after the reaction of "really?" in a bad way.
August 14, 2021
The Worst Thing is a “suspense” type novel. In this case you sort of know the hero will make it out alive and probably pretty well, after all, he is giving most of the narration. But sometimes the narration is taken over by the hero’s wife or the “bad guy”. There are pretty clear delineations about whose thoughts are being recorded.
Parts of the book seemed intriguing; other parts just seemed too convoluted. But then again, this was a summer-time read, so it does not need to be believable. Just not too unbelievable. So pick up the book, read and enjoy. Just do not overthink it.
There is a few more thoughts I had about this book, but essentially it is a book to enjoy not to think about. See my link text">my book blog fpr my of my babble.
Parts of the book seemed intriguing; other parts just seemed too convoluted. But then again, this was a summer-time read, so it does not need to be believable. Just not too unbelievable. So pick up the book, read and enjoy. Just do not overthink it.
There is a few more thoughts I had about this book, but essentially it is a book to enjoy not to think about. See my link text">my book blog fpr my of my babble.
December 3, 2021
Cross a James Patterson with a Tana French and this is what you might get. But you must know from the very start how it is going to turn out. And despite a nod to the setting, we get a much better sense of Iceland from actual Icelandic thriller-mystery writers. It has been said, and not just by me, that Aaron Elkins is at his best when he is writing in his “Skeleton Detective” series. His art theft/forgery books are not bad either. But this one seems forced, contrived, hiked-up, simplistic, overly didactic. The only things that saves it is the twist at the end, which may or may not have a basis in the annals of actual childhood trauma and recovery.
January 6, 2020
I’ve long been obsessed with Iceland. So, wandering through the stacks of the local library, I stumbled on this. Set in Iceland? I’m in!
What a bad choice.
The author’s prose is as wooden as Pinocchio. I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare, but I also wasn’t expecting an appliance manual masquerading as a novel.
The plot unfolds predictably.
You learn a bit about panic and anxiety along the way.
There’s a twist at the end, but it seems rather forced and, frankly, not that important.
And the setting is, really, kind of incidental in many ways.
Just. So. Bad.
What a bad choice.
The author’s prose is as wooden as Pinocchio. I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare, but I also wasn’t expecting an appliance manual masquerading as a novel.
The plot unfolds predictably.
You learn a bit about panic and anxiety along the way.
There’s a twist at the end, but it seems rather forced and, frankly, not that important.
And the setting is, really, kind of incidental in many ways.
Just. So. Bad.
September 17, 2021
It was so interesting and I couldn't stop reading it at the beginning. The background of Bryan and his current situation were intriguing, and it was really fun to read even before the abduction occurs. The last part of the crime was too action-packed for me. I wish it kept its tense atmosphere. However, I liked how the whole story was ended. I think the title of this book is perfect in many ways.
Apart from the story, I enjoyed learning about Iceland, especially about Icelander's surname.
Apart from the story, I enjoyed learning about Iceland, especially about Icelander's surname.
August 6, 2020
The book description here is a bit vague, so here is the synopsis: Hostage-negotiation program designer Bryan Bennett's own abduction and imprisonment as a small boy still plague him, and claustrophobia prevents him from traveling. When a CEO specifically requests that Bryan fly overseas to teach a seminar, he finally agrees--and is once again abducted.
I enjoyed it quite a bit.
I enjoyed it quite a bit.
July 21, 2018
The only reason I picked up this book is because it takes place in Iceland. It turned out to be a good suspenseful story and finished it quickly. I had never heard of the author before, but I'll probably check out some of his other books.
August 6, 2017
I liked the main character, and how he grows through the book. The description of not wanting to move and disturb the dog really gave me a full picture of the man.
January 7, 2018
Well written and very interesting. I can't wait to read another book by this author!
June 20, 2018
The mind is complicated and surely can play tricks on your memories. How would you cope?
December 6, 2018
This was an entertaining read, with a good plot.
November 24, 2019
Wow! Pretty scary stuff, this story! And...in the last few pages: POW! You won't forget this one for a long time!
August 4, 2022
I liked a previous novel by Aaron Elkins but this one just didn't do anything for me, other than the descriptions of Iceland as I'd love to visit the country sometime.
August 23, 2023
DNF'd. I could not bring myself to read it starting in the second half of the book. Enjoy the beginning and leave it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews